Thread by @kgosztola

The twelfth day of proceedings in the trial portion of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's extradition hearing will begin shortly. I'll have live updates. #AssangeTrial

Yesterday, lead prosecutor James Lewis asserted Assange exaggerates his symptoms of depression, and in fact, no one with severe or moderate depression could possibly function and run a media organization. shadowproof.com/2020/09/22/us-… #AssangeTrial

Housekeeping note: To receive written reports in your inbox after each day of court, go to dissenter.substack.com/subscribe. It's that easy to stay informed on #AssangeTrial

Dr. Quinton Deeley, National Health Service psychiatrist who specializes in autism, ADHD, & other mental health issues, will testify first.

By afternoon, we'll have Professor Paul Mullen, psychiatrist in Australia who diagnosed Assange with depression in 1995. #AssangeTrial

Dr. Quinton Deeley takes the witness stand in the Old Bailey Courthouse #AssangeTrial

Assange told Deeley about conditions he feared if extradited to the United States, fears of isolation, and fears of new indictment. Also was concerned about Joshua Schulte, who was accused of releasing Vault 7 materials, and how Schulte was confined before trial. #AssangeTrial

We are hearing evidence related to Deeley's autism diagnosis and some of the features of disorder that stood out to Deeley. #AssangeTrial

Deeley says risk of suicide would be high if extradited. "It’s an outcome which he fears, which he dreads."

He "ruminates about prospective circumstances at length." #AssangeTrial

Deeley added that risk is "influenced by his appraisal of his prospective circumstances," which he views as "intolerable ordeal. He views it as unjust." #AssangeTrial

Deeley testifies Assange is "prominent public figure," and he sees what he is going through as "exemplary punishment" — an "example is being made out of him." It "compounds his sense of its unbearability." #AssangeTrial

Fitzgerald asked Deeley what would happen if Assange was extradited and confined in US prison. Deeley said it would "cause severe deterioration of his mental state."

He was severely depressed in 2019. Improved to moderate depression this year. #AssangeTrial

Prosecutor James Lewis is going over Deeley's autism diagnosis of Assange #AssangeTrial

Prosecution shows clips from a Frontline Club event, where Assange participated in a Q&A. The US government believes this undermines the autism diagnosis because it's their view autistic person could not function well in this setting. #AssangeTrial

The clips are from video of this Frontline Club event, "The Data Revolution: How WikiLeaks is Changing Journalism."

Deeley rejects what prosecutor tried to show. "Highly rehearsed social role of him talking about topic in which he has expertise." Highly structured. Lacks quality of having to respond to informal social interaction. #AssangeTrial

Lewis: Are you trying to help the court or advocate a cause?

Fitzgerald: Wholly inappropriate. Given a focused intelligible answer.

Baraitser allows Lewis to ask this antagonistic question, which has featured in most cross-exams by prosecution. #AssangeTrial

Lewis went through several examples from assessments of Assange that showed he engaged with "good eye contact" and asked why Deeley still maintained his autism diagnosis of Assange #AssangeTrial

Lewis asked if depression could be alternative explanation for reduction in nonverbal communication.

Deeley said Assange's mother, as well as Kopelman's interviews with people who have known Assange, helped form basis of diagnosis #AssangeTrial

Lewis: But he fathered children and had relationships with women?

Deeley: He has had very few lifelong friends and people who have befriended Assange all had to make allowances...accommodate odd aspects of "interpersonal functioning." #AssangeTrial

Lewis: Yes but he's written books, given speeches, and hosted a "chat show."

Deeley: "It's possible to both have a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and to demonstrate expertise and be authoritative and knowledgeable when talking about certain topics." #AssangeTrial

Lewis: You don't mention the fact that he has written or given speeches. Why do you simply always try to defend the position?

Deeley: It's a summary judgment. I've noted the features are mild rather than marked. #AssangeTrial

Lewis asked Deeley if he has an "autistic trait" because he is looking at ceiling and not making eye contact during cross-exam. And Deeley took this in stride saying he is taking in body language of judge and other parties in court #AssangeTrial

Lewis asked if it is simply that Assange has elevated risk of suicide compared to "normal population of men."

Deeley said no, he would "attache more weight to risk than that." #AssangeTrial

Professor Mullen is unable to testify this afternoon. There is no witness after this one, and Baraitser is livid. Insisted Fitzgerald and defense team find someone to take the stand. #AssangeTrial

Defense is re-examining Dr. Deeley.

Deeley says the autism diagnosis was based on test administered, collateral interviews, case notes, psychiatric reports, and a 6-hour interview #AssangeTrial

Fitzgerald returned to clips played from Frontline Club, and Deeley said he called Assange's remarks a "monologue" because it's "uninterrupted discourse over many minutes." He's acting as expert & inhabits "social realms, where he's granted a platform to do that." #AssangeTrial

Baraitser says she wants to conclude proceedings on October 2. Fitzgerald rises to say he doesn't think that is possible given there's 14 witnesses for next week and also closing arguments. #AssangeTrial

Lunch break. Mightily trying to see if Professor Seena Fazel, a medical expert, can take the stand this afternoon. #AssangeTrial

Seena Fazel, a medical expert for the prosecution, is called to the witness stand at the Old Bailey. #AssangeTrial

Fazel says Assange has capacity to "self-manage his risk and that to me is not consistent with the idea, the notion that his mental condition is so severe that he can’t resist suicide." #AssangeTrial

Fazel is no expert but he suggests US prisons would offer standard assessment and treatment of mental health problems and even cognitive behavioral therapy. #AssangeTrial

Fazel's diagnosis is that Assange has depression but not necessarily with "psychotic features." #AssangeTrial

Defense is cross-examining Fazel. They immediately note he did not see Assange when he was most disturbed in December 2019. #AssangeTrial

When Fazel assessed Assange, he was on medication and was no longer in segregation in hospital unit in Belmarsh #AssangeTrial

Fitzgerald asked if US prison conditions, if he is convicted or sentenced, could it make a big difference in his risk of suicide.

Fazel said it could but important to know what those conditions are. #AssangeTrial

Fitzgerald asked Fazel about solitary confinement and what it may mean as far as increased risk of suicide.

Fazel first said "some people may not have a poor reaction." Then he said if access to family, other forms of support were removed, he'd accept higher risk. #AssangeTrial

Fazel consistently said it would be hard for him to draw a direct causal link between prison conditions and risk of suicide because there are "so many other factors that have to be considered." #AssangeTrial

Fitzgerald described what conditions are like at ADX supermax prison in Colorado, where they think Assange could be confined. Fazel accepted if he had "bleak prospects" or indefinite/lengthy sentence it would increase the risk of suicide. #AssangeTrial

Fitzgerald asked if Fazel could assess suicide risk of someone subject to SAMs in pretrial detention in US or someone confined in ADX Colorado. He clearly stated he is not an expert and couldn't give useful testimony. #AssangeTrial

Fazel conceded that others with expertise on effects of confinement conditions on prisoners at ADX Colorado would be the ones to ask, not him. #AssangeTrial

Fazel would only go so far as to agree that Assange had "autistic-like" traits. He did not diagnose Assange with autism but accepted Deeley was an expert capable of assessing Assange. #AssangeTrial

On re-exam, the prosecutor read a section from Assistant US Attorney Gordon Kromberg's affidavit on conditions at ADX Colorado, to suggest this would reduce risk of suicide. He mentioned programs for prisoners, etc.

Fazel, a prosecution witness, replied that he would have to know "to what extent are these implemented" and "what is the quality." #AssangeTrial

Fazel noted range of activities that would reduce risk of suicide. "I would want to know more, whether they're implemented in practice and the quality of them. It needs to be supported by information on whether these happen and the quality of the interventions." #AssangeTrial

We are on a break and there will likely be a witness statement entered into the record. Baraitser is adamant that more be done this afternoon #AssangeTrial

Witness statement from Kate Humphreys, psychiatrist who produced a neuropsychological report on Assange, entered into court record. Thiis based on tests in Jan 2020 that were conducted on his cognitive health. #AssangeTrial

Fitzgerald read it rather quickly, but conclusions were Assange had intellectual under functioning, his episodic memory was weak, struggled with task instruction, & attention & working memory were weak. Results came during heightened state of anxiety and depression. #AssangeTrial

Baraitser insists Assange's legal team have closing arguments ready for Monday and Tuesday in the 5th week. Fitzgerald doesn't think they can do justice to Assange's case. They want a month of preparation. #AssangeTrial

Alternatively, James Lewis proposes submitting everything in writing about a week or so after last witness. No oral argument. No hearing necessary. Then Baraitser could rule. #AssangeTrial

We're adjourned. I will be going live with a report on Day 11 of proceedings in #AssangeTrial.

Watch here:

Adding this graph on COVID-19 cases to show how wild it is that Baraitser is growing so impatient with Assange's legal team when it comes to scheduling. Pandemic delayed trial until September. It may even disrupt 4th week as spiking intensifies. #AssangeTrial

Baraitser says she wants Assange's legal team to have closing arguments right after all these witnesses, flippantly alluding to toll this is taking on Assange. But as attorney said, Assange wants team to put on best defense. This is about Baraitser, not Assange. #AssangeTrial

Correction: Day 12. Losing track of dates.

Doctor diagnosed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with Asperger's syndrome. This could be a significant factor in the judge's decision to reject a U.S. extradition request, as it was in the cases of Lauri Love and Gary McKinnon. shadowproof.com/2020/09/23/doc… #AssangeTrial